Decommissioned signal box becomes railway museum

A railway signal box which was decommissioned in October 2025 has officially been handed over to community ownership.

The Grade II listed signal box at Haslemere station, in Surrey, was in service for more than 130 years and has been restored before being given to the local community.

It is now being managed by Haslemere Signal Box Trust and will serve as a railway museum for the public to enjoy.

The handover event took place on 13 June, during a special ceremony at the station, making the culmination of years of collaboration with local volunteers to preserve an important part of the town's railway heritage.

The signal box was decommissioned as part of the Farncombe to Petersfield re-signalling programme.

Over the past three months, significant restoration work has restored it to its traditional Southern Railway appearance.

More than 35 volunteers from South Western Railway and Network Rail supported the refurbishment.

Ken Griffiths, chair of the Haslemere Signal Box Trust, said: "Thanks must be given to all the volunteers who helped us renovate the box and fit out the museum.

"They included Network Rail and South Western Railway employees and the local pool of volunteers from Haslemere and the surrounding district."

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